PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale has realized a 12.12 percent increase in sales tax cash receipts during the third quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2012/13 over the same quarter in FY 2011/12, making it the 11th straight quarter in which those numbers have improved.

Gross receipts for the quarter totaled $4,111,578, the highest total since the fourth quarter of FY 2007/08 when receipts were $4,496,313. (View the report here.)

“This is great news as we’re heading into our busiest shopping month of the year,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “I think these kinds of numbers say a lot. They say that the residents of the Antelope Valley are shopping local, which is a huge benefit to our local economy. I want to personally thank everyone for shopping local and ask that everyone continue to do so and keep our tax dollars at home.”

“Another side to this equation is the excellent job that our City staff does to attract and retain retailers, auto dealers, restaurants and manufacturers of all sizes and varieties,” Ledford said. “The shopping and dining options in Palmdale are such that there is rarely a need to go to the Los Angeles basin. We’ve got pretty much everything you need here in Palmdale, from the AV Mall and 10th St. West shops, to all the stores and restaurants along Palmdale Boulevard and Avenue S, to the new east side shopping hub at 47th East between Avenues R and S. As we like to say, ‘It’s all here in Palmdale!’” added Ledford.

“The more our residents shop locally for their retail goods, dining and big ticket items such as automobiles, the more our residents benefit from the increase in sales tax revenue,” Ledford said. “Those tax dollars help fund all the City programs and services that we enjoy and that give Palmdale residents such a high quality of life.”

The potential for more growth in 2013 gives even more optimism to future economic growth.

“Companies like Vision Engineering are on the verge of landing new business that can add up to a thousand new jobs here in Palmdale,” Ledford said. “There are other manufacturers who have shown and interest here, and of course, there will be several new retailers who will be coming to Palmdale next year. I’m usually pretty optimistic, but the outlook for 2013 has me VERY optimistic. Stay tuned!”